Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP decline, while Dogecoin increases in anticipation of important inflation data.
February 13, 2026
Cryptocurrencies and stock markets experienced a bumpy ride on Wednesday as investors awaited crucial consumer inflation data. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other leading cryptos saw extended losses during the day. Bitcoin hovered between $65,000 and $68,000, with low trading volume indicating weak buying pressure. Ethereum briefly dipped below $1,900 before a quick rebound.
Both Bitcoin and Ethereum have struggled in February, with Bitcoin dropping 16% and Ethereum falling over 20%. Companies linked to cryptocurrencies, like Strategy Inc. and Coinbase Global Inc., also saw share prices decline. Recent data shows over $250 million was liquidated from the crypto market, with a significant amount being from bullish long bets.
Despite the market experiencing a slide, most whale and retail investors on platforms like Binance remained optimistic about Bitcoin, even as open interest dropped slightly. The market sentiment was characterized by “Extreme Fear,” according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
In terms of gains, River, Kite, and Ribbita by Virtuals were among the top-performing cryptocurrencies in the past 24 hours. The global cryptocurrency market cap witnessed a 1.33% decrease, settling at $2.31 trillion.
The stock market also saw major declines, with notable indices like the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all falling by more than 1.3%. Meanwhile, commodities like gold and silver saw fluctuations throughout the day.
Investors are now eagerly awaiting the release of the Consumer Price Index data, seeking insights into inflation levels and potential Federal Reserve policy adjustments.
Crypto analysts have been closely monitoring Bitcoin’s movements, with several identifying key technical levels to watch. Ali Martinez highlighted the 1130-day simple moving average, noting that it has historically marked significant cycle bottoms for Bitcoin. Martinez pointed out that this critical level is currently around $66,500.
Another analyst, Rekt Capital, emphasized the importance of Bitcoin’s weekly close relative to its 200-week exponential moving average, highlighting that a close below $68,300 could trigger additional downside movement in Bitcoin.
As market participants continue to gauge the impact of inflation data and monitor technical indicators, the cryptocurrency and stock markets remain in a state of uncertainty, with many eyes on how these assets will perform in the days to come.
